The Petit Trianon is an architectural monument created and constructed in 1768 and is located in the grounds of the Palace of Versailles in France. The design of this small chateau marks the change in the architectural area in this part of France at that time. The main attraction of the chateau is its four facades which face difference sides of the whole estate.
History of the Petit Trianon
Louis XV had this special construction created for his mistress, Madame de Pompadour, however, she passed away four years before the completion of the construction, and consequently, it was then handed over to the Queen Marie Antoinette as a gift from the King for her own personal use.The main reason why this special chateau was built was to fulfill the wishes of Madame de Pompadour, who was considered to be a very good gardener and who loved gardens and ornamental plants. The King also enjoyed this part of their lives and they decided to build something which was closer to the botanical gardens.
The Petit Trianon: Unique Architecture
Being a very exceptional person, the Marie Antoinette used to take full advantage of the premises, and she would not allow everybody to come into her own chateau without her permission. There were also many rules related to the interactions between the servants and the guests which is why it was designed with the idea of having mobile tables which were mechanically lowered and raised through the floorboards so that the servants could work without being seen. Although you cannot currently see the tables, the impressions on the floors are still there.You can also find some very interesting creations which could be considered very unique taking into consideration the age of the building which include mirrored panels on the windows which can be raised or lowered by simply turning a crank.
The Exhibition at the Petit Trianon
It is said that the elaborate taste and the extravagant lifestyle of Marie Antoinette created sparks in the political arena at the time of the French Revolution. However, it is important to note that the Petit Trianon at Versailles can be considered the only place where she was able to express her true love for beauty and art and culture, something which she could not do while she was being part of the royal demands of the time.The exhibition gives the visitor the idea of the collections of remodeled and restored works from the pre-revolution and post-revolution eras of France. It includes paintings, personal affects, furniture, sculptures and other items.
The Queen was considered to be very extravagant in the ways how she used to take the best craftsmen and materials to create these expensive pieces of art at that time, however, it is very difficult to really relate to her as to whether she was just a simple person trying to express her artistic qualities or was she trying to spoil herself and her name by doing what she used to.
The Centerpiece of the Petit Trianon
The centerpiece is totally dedicated to the Queen herself. It is a portal of Marie Antoinette just after she became the queen and is set of a dramatic red backdrop drapery. Just by seeing this portal a visitor should be able to get a very good idea of the kind of person she could have been. A person who loved beautiful things, and who is willing to go to extremes and at the same time someone simple and elegant.
A Glimpse into the Life of Marie Antoinette
However, visitors are also surprised to be able to see a different side of her when they are able to go through her very personal belongings, which include the beautiful and elegant yet simple bedroom, her antechamber, her salon and the room reserved for her friends as well.The salon, at that time, was used to entertain and to play all sorts of games and also as a music room, which is something that the Queen also enjoyed a lot. She was an excellent harp player and would enjoy playing her instrument on very regular basis. There is a harp in the third room of the Petit Trianon, and although this instrument isn't the original, it does play a very important role in trying to understand the life of such an artistic and intricate personality.
Interesting Features of the Petit Trianon
A grand lantern suspended in the third room is something that you cannot miss and which can be considered to be a marvel to the craftsmanship of the 18th century. This is an extraordinary piece of craftsmanship, with its combination of bows, arrows, wreaths and trophies which symbolize love in all its forms.There are many more images of the Queen that you can find in this chateau; however, there are some different ideas and expressions that have not been accepted by the royal family at that time, as they thought that these paintings were not up to the standards that a Queen needs to keep in accordance to the royal tradition.
The Petit Trianon Gardens
The grounds surrounding the Petit Trianon represent a lot of love for natural harmony based on a very special artistic and culturally rich background that could only come from very special people that were exposed to a very different kind of environment, who were simple and who were at the same time highly gifted, however, because of this combination who were totally misunderstood by the masses and unfortunately by their own people as well.The Gardens have been created with something different in them, and it is something worth seeing. Themes like lakes, and waterfalls, different kinds of chambers and the beauty of nature expressed in many forms and shapes at the same time.
The Art of the Petit Trianon
At the end of the exhibition you are able to follow some of the paintings of the Queen’s antechamber. They are based on simpler themes like the harvesting of wine, hunting and fishing as well. Another part of her artistic personality can be seen where you have the opportunity to see the other side of the antechamber where you will see her family and siblings performing mini operas and ballets, which was a tradition she carried to stage when she performed at the Trianon as well. It is said that she actually called upon the King to come and view some of these performances.